Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

Li Gengtian decided not to wait for his father anymore. He felt that what Qingmu had said was very reasonable; Third Uncle was just being completely irrational. ’If I handle this unfairly, won’t it damage my authority in the village?’

Therefore, with a stern expression, he said to Li Mingtang, "Third Uncle, let’s just pick another spot!"

In truth, Li Mingtang was already having second thoughts, but his son and nephew’s words made him furious. "Are you all siding with the Zheng Family?"

He glanced at the Li family members present, including Li Changming and Li Changxing who had arrived later, his expression grim. ’Since when is the Zheng Family so popular in this village?’

Li Mingtang had always taken pride in the Li Family being a prominent clan and his nephew being the village head, and he couldn’t hide his sense of superiority. Although he never actually used his influence to bully anyone, his words always implied that the Li Family, with its many members and literate men, was far beyond what an ordinary family could ever hope to be.

Now, to see the Zheng Family dare to obstruct him over a piece of land—a piece that wasn’t even theirs, no less—was infuriating. He didn’t think he was in the wrong at all. ’It’s not like I’m stealing their property.’

’It would be one thing if I decided not to buy this land on my own, but being forced not to buy it by the Zheng Family? That’s unacceptable. All they did was tell the village about the acorns, and now they’re putting on such airs?’

Li Changxing and Li Changming thought to themselves, ’Isn’t Third Great-uncle just looking for trouble?’

’We’re swamped with work, and he’s starting arguments over something like this. Never mind that the Zheng Family is against it—even if we were allowed to, we wouldn’t want to buy land here. A plot by the mountain is so much better.’

Li Gengtian knew his third uncle was in one of his stubborn moods, and he was getting angry too. He said, "Third Uncle, I’m not telling you not to buy here because Changhe is protesting. I’m advising you against it because I genuinely think it’s not a suitable spot. Just think, didn’t I try to persuade you last night? Back then, Changhe didn’t even know you were planning to buy land, right?"

After hearing Li Gengtian, Li Mingtang knew he was right, but he was still deeply unhappy about the Zheng Family obstructing him. Just as he was about to speak, an aged voice called out from the distance, "Third Brother, what’s all this nonsense you’re stirring up?"

As the voice faded, Li Gengtian’s father approached, leaning on a cane.

Although the old man was still quite hale with a steady gait, he was a little out of breath from having rushed over. Li Gengtian quickly stepped forward to support him.

He stood firm, caught his breath, and then turned a stony face to Li Mingtang. "How many years do you have left? Just leave this land business to the younger generation to sort out. What are you making such a fuss for? And even if you’re helping with ideas, you shouldn’t be giving such rotten ones. If you build a house here, stuck in the middle of nowhere, you might as well not move at all. Everyone else who moved here took great pains to pick a plot by the mountain. Who else is as brainless as you?"

Seeing his elder brother, Li Mingtang didn’t dare show any more anger. Still fuming, he said, "Fine, I won’t buy it! It’s not like I was dead set on this spot. But look! The moment I mentioned buying land here, Changhe’s family came out to stop me. Does this land belong to them? That’s just not right, no matter how you spin it!"

In short, he was simply furious that the Zheng Family had interfered.

Li Gengtian’s father knew his third brother’s temperament well—he was the type who could never stand to lose an argument.

He shot a fierce glare at Li Mingtang and said, "You’re blocking their front view, and you expect them not to say a word? Are they supposed to just sit behind you and stare at your back door? Their view was wide open. If you build here, they won’t be able to see the fields or the river. I wouldn’t be happy either if I were them. Changhe was just advising you not to buy this plot. Did he curse at you?" As he spoke, he looked toward Zheng Changhe.

Zheng Changhe hurriedly said, "Uncle Li, would I ever do such a thing? I was just pleading with Third Uncle not to buy land here. If he really insists on buying it, there’s nothing I can do. Just like he said, this land belongs to the Emperor, not my family."

Li Gengtian, fearing his father was about to scold Third Uncle again, worried that if his uncle lost face in front of so many people, he would surely hold a grudge and cause the Zheng Family endless trouble in the future.

So, he said to his father, "Alright, Dad! Third Uncle still hasn’t found a good spot. Since you’re already out here, why don’t you help take a look and see where a good place to buy land would be? Come on, let’s go check out the north side!"

Li Mingtang was pulled away by his son and nephew. Li Gengtian’s father gave Zheng Changhe’s family a friendly smile before following them.

With that, Zheng Changhe’s family returned to their courtyard, and Zhang Huai followed them in.

He said to Qingmu in a serious tone, "I think you should go ahead and buy a plot of land on that spot. That way, no one else can try to squeeze in next to you—there won’t be enough room. My house is just up the hill from there, and there wouldn’t be enough space to build a house between us."